FOUR days is obviously a long time in rugby league.

Keighley Cougars should have went into Monday's National League One opener with every confidence after demolishing Hunslet Hawks in the Arriva Cup on Good Friday.

But just days after that 47-8 victory, Gary Moorby's men bore the brunt of a 56-6 reverse at Hull to leave themselves in no doubt as to the size of the task they face to compete in this division.

It really was a Good Friday for the Cougars however as they booked a quarter final qualifying place in the Arriva Cup with a comprehensive result against Hunslet.

An injury-hit Hunslet side were no match for Moorby's men as they claimed second place in the Pennine group of the competition to make the qualifiers.

Matt Foster was in particularly fine form as he led rapier like breaks through the Hunslet defence and Matt Firth enjoyed a sublime kicking game.

A Mitchell penalty just three minutes in put Cougars on the scorecard before he added another minutes later to double the tally.

Chris Parker opened Keighley's try-scoring account after good work from Firth on the 20 metre line saw him release Parker to cross over.

Mitchell made no mistake in converting the try.

Foster then got in on the action after Craig McDowell had sauntered through a lacklustre Hunslet defence before feeding the centre who sprinted over in the right hand corner.

Just as Hunslet looked in danger of being demolished before half-time, scrum-half Steve Doherty followed his own grubber to reduce the deficit. Adam Mitchell then spent ten minutes cooling off in the sin-bin after he traded blows with Danny Wood, sparking something of a free for all.

The number shortage seemed to have little effect on the Cougars however as Karl Smith collected Firth's kick to score in the corner.

Andy Robinson deputised with Mitchell's kicking duties but his effort from the sidelines never went close to adding the conversion.

Hunslet hit back with a penalty but Matt Steele then continued the scoring for Keighley. He was the final piece in the jigsaw after good work by Firth and Foster.

Moments later, Foster played a part in McDowell's try. After the break, James Rushforth got in on the scoring before Doherty was binned to deplete Hunslet further.

Another two tries for Mitchell and one for Smith completed the rout.

It was all a very different story on Monday however as Cougars found Hull KR in top form in their league opener.

Against a side assembled to aim for Superleague promotion, Moorby's men were made to pay for sloppy handling and missed tackles as the home side raced into a 30-0 half-time lead.

Rovers winger Alasdair McClarron crossed over three times in the opening quarter of an hour before further first half scores from Craig Farrell and Scott Thorburn.

Into the second half and Hull showed no sign of easing up as Lynton Stott added another try with Keighley constantly struggled to complete their sets.

Phil Hasty came off the bench to add two more tries for Hull KR with Smith and McClarron also scoring before the end of the match.

Keighley's consolation came from the hard-working Simeon Hoyle, 13 minutes from time.